Mixing apparatus



NOV.`29, 1938. A MacLELLAN 2,138,550

MIXING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15,1938 s sheets-sheet 1 wyw ffaczezzw@ Nv.239, 193s.

A. D. MaCLELLAN MIXING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l5, 1938yngw @MMM MMM* Patented Nov. 29, 1938 Ui'iED S'i'ES MIXNG APPARATUSAngus D. MacLellan, Owensboro, Ky., assignor to Anglo American MillCorporation, Owensboro, Ky., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJanuary 15, 1938, Serial No. 185,233

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved batch mixer in which meansare provided for mixing any kind of dry, free-ilowing materials orliquids with scientific accuracy by dividing and pyramiding thematerials during the mixing operation in order to obtain a uniform,thorough and perfect blending of the materials, and is an improvementover the apparatus covered in my Patent No. 1,496,992, dated lJune l0,1924.

An improtant feature consists in providing a rotary container or drumwith two communicating compartments, and associating with at least oneof the compartments, spaced partition plates which are disposed at anacute angle relative tothe horizontal transverse axis of the container;the spaces between the plates constituting inwardly inclined pockets forreceiving separate batches of the material and for sequentiallydischarging the same into the other compartment during the operation ofthe mixer, thus providing a definite plan of mixing the materials duringthe rotation of the container. The inclination of the plates acts toprogressively advance the material across the container so that duringthe rotation of the latter, the material works its way around to theother side of the container, to insure a thorough mixing of thematerials across the container as well as in other parts thereof duringthe operation of the mixer.

A further object is to provide a mixing apparatus with side charging andretaining means for permitting the release or escape of the air replacedby the stock introduced into the container and for replacing thematerial in the container with air when the charge is drawn off.

Another object consists in associating with a side charging container,pockets for conducting the material from one end of the container to theother, said pockets being separated by a band or sleeve for facilitatingthe discharge of the material from one end of the container to theother.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction With theaccompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings in which are shown several preferredembodiments, the invention may assume,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 ofFigure 2.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts inthe several views, iii indicates a rotary container or drum which hasextending medially and outwardly from its opposite sides, trunnions i!mounted in the bearings i2. Bolts I3 secure the bearings to the inclinedside bars lli of the supporting frame l5. The container may be rotatedby any suitable means and as shown, is actuated by a sprocket wheel i6keyed to one of the trunnions ll and operatively connected to a sprocketil by an endless chain I2. The sprocket il is keyed to a shaft i9journalled in a bearing i8 carried by one of the uprights 2li of theframe l5. A handle 2l secured to the shaft i9 is arranged when actuatedto rotate the container iti in a clockwise direction as indicated by thearrow in Figure 1. Manifestly, any other form of driving means, such asa motor or the like, may be connected to the container for rotating thesame about its horizontal transverse axis.

The interior of the container l0 has two separate compartments 22 and 23respectively, which communicate at their inner ends through a restrictedopening 24. Each compartment preferably is formed with an outer funnelor truncated shaped side 25 and a similarly shaped inner side 25. Theinner sides 26 meet and are secured together as at 29 (Figure 2). Thediverging sides 25 and 26 are inclined preferably at an angle of 50 tothe horizontal axis of the container to facilitate the discharge of thematerials into and through the opening 2&5 irrespective of the varyingsizes, weights and shapes of the materials to be mixed.

The outer reduced ends of the compartments 22 and 23 each communicatewith a reduced lling and discharging opening 3i? which may beV closed byany suitable means such as a removable cap or plug 3l. A sleeve 32encloses the inner sides 2 6 and may overlap the inner ends of the outersides 25 so as to be welded or otherwise secured thereto in order toprovide a rigid structure.

Extending inwardly from each of the compartments 22 and 23 and shaped toconform with 'ment 22.

the inner walls thereof, are spaced separators in the form of partitionplates or wings 33 which preferably extend half way around one side ofeach compartment (Figure 4). The spaces between the plates constituteinclined pockets for receiving and conducting the materials from onecompartment to the other through the restricted opening 24. The plates33 in the compartment 22 are positioned on the opposite side of a. planeextending longitudinally through the container from the plates in thecompartment 23 so that the sides of the compartment opposite the platesare provided with curved smooth portions 34 which receive the materialand transfer the same to the pockets in their respective compartmentsupon the rotation of the container. As shown, each of thecompartments22V and 23 is divided by the separators 33 into six pockets35, y36, 3l, 38, 39 and 40 respectively, which have their bottomsdisposed at an angle of substantially 50 in order to facilitate thedischarge of material-de- Y posited thereon irrespective of vthe size orWeight of the same. The separators 33 are preferably inclined at anangle of substantially 80.5 relative to the horizontal transverse axisof the container for a purpose which will subsequently be described.Manifestly, the number of pockets may be varied las working conditionsmay require.

in my Patent No. 1,496,992, the separators are perpendicular to a,horizontal plane passing through the container. I have found that bypositioning these separators at an angle of substantially to thisvhorizontal plane, that the inclination of the separators constitutesmeans which act to Vlaterally deflect the material across and around thecontainer `so that the material as it is being agitated, by the rotarymovement of the container, is at the same time being worked around tolthe other side of the container, thus insuring a uniform and perfectblending of the various materials being mixed. Additionally, theinclination of the separators 33 presents surfaces inthe path ofthematerial falling into the pockets which imparts a rolling movement tothe particles of material as they empty into the pockets to furtherobtain a more intimate mixture.

In'opera'tion, oneof the end closures 3! is removed and the container ischarged in an Vupright position such as shownl in Figure 2. As 'the'different materials in the desired proportions are introduced 'into'the container, they fall tothe bottom or lower compartment and upon therotation of the'container by the driving means, such as the handle I9,the container is revolved in a clockwise direction .as indicated by thearrow in Figure 1. As 'the container continues to rotate,'the materialslides into the pockets of the compartment 23, so that when thecontainer reaches its horizontal position (Figure 5) vthe Ymaterial willbe divided into six lots or batches in the compartment 23. As thecompartment '23 moves upwardly and reaches an angleof substantially 45,the inclination of the bottom of the end pockets 35 and 40 causes thematerial to be discharged from these pockets through the restrictedopening 24 and into the smooth portion 34 of the compartment 22. Whenthe compartment 23 reaches an angle of substantially 60the pockets 36and 39 discharge their contents through'the opening 24 into smoothportion 34of the ladjacent compartment, and at 80, the pockets 3'! and38 discharge the material therein through the opening 24 to the compart--Whenfthe container reaches its vertical position, all f the material istransferred to the now lower compartment 22 and the mixing anddischarging operation is repeated. Thus, it will be Seen that twelvecomplete separations and mixtures take place during each completerevolution of the container. As the rotation of the container carriesthe material above the transverse axis of the mixer, the material fallsby gravity and is aided by the inclination of the bottom of the pocketsso as to discharge sequentially or successively from` two pockets at atime, thus pyramiding and forming layers in the Vsmooth portion of thelower compartment prior to being introduced into the pockets therein. Asthis operation is repeated every half revolution, it will give sixtycomplete operations and mixes in ve revolutions. Further, as thecontainer rotates, the material is alternateiy conducted from a smoothportion of one compartment to the pockets therein from Where it isdelivered in separate lots or batches through the opening 24 into thesmooth portion of the adjacent com.- partment.y

By positioning 'the separators 33 at an acute angle of preferably 80 tothe transverse axis of the container, the material is fed across thecontainer from one end to the other, so as to provide means which coactwith the other parts of the device for insuring a thorough and perfectmixing of the various ingredients during the rotation of the container.Thus, if four pounds oi iiour andfone tablespoonful of pulverizedcharcoal are desired to be intimately mixed and if the charcoal isinitially deposited in one of the end pockets, such as 40 (Figure 4),and the apparatus started, the charcoal will be mo-ved transverselyYacross or around fthe container to the opposite pocket 35 in twentyrevolutions or Aone quarter of this distance in ve revolutions. Thus,the inclination of the plates or blades lnot only constitutes walls forthe pockets vbut also provides means for gradually-advancing andlturning the particles of material from one side of the container to theother duringthe mixing-operation. Further, as portions of the -platesare posi- Vtioned in the path of the material asit falls intol thepocketatheparticles dropping on the plates will roll down -the sidesofthe Yplates vinto their respective pockets-thus forming anintiinatemixture with adjacent particles prior to the emptying of the separatebatches of the-materials into the smcothportion of the lower vcompartment, -as

contrasted to directly falling intothe Ipocketsas is the case vwhen theseparato-rs are :positioned substantially'perpendicular tothetransverse-axis of the container. simplefeicient and positivemeans-are-provided for` obtaining a rapid and thorough ymixing -of lthematerials withscientific accuracy, and irrespective of their' sizes,shapes or proportions. Moreover, the materials initially mixed -as wellvas the l-ast charge vwill be as thoroughlylblended as the otherbatches, thus obviating the necessity and expense of takingo'iffth'efrst andlast batch for remixing on account of imperfect mixing`By virtuev of "this construction substantially similar to thatpreviously described. However, instead .of introducing the material intothe container 4I through end openings, means are provided for chargingthe mixture through one side thereof. .As shown, the container 4I hasextending medially and outwardly from its sides, tubular members 42 and43 interposed between the conical compartments 44 and 45 and whichcommunicate with the central opening 46 between the compartments. Arotary driving shaft 47 extends transversely through the tubular membersand the opening 46 and has fastened to one end thereof, a pulley 48 asat 4S. The pulley 45 may be connected to any suitable driving means,such as a motor or the like, by the belt 50. Each of the compartments 44and 45 has positioned therein the separators 5l which preferably extendhalf way around the interior of the same and which are disposed at anangle of substantially 80 to the horizontal transverse plane of thecontainer. The inclined sides of the compartments 44 and 45 opposite theseparators 5! are preferably smooth so as to receive and conduct thematerial to the pockets 52 formed by the separators 5l. The materials inthe pockets 52 are sequentiallyv discharged therefrom at predeterminedintervals during the rotation of the container in substantially the samemanner as in the form previously described.

The materials to be mixed are introduced into the container 4l through ahopper 53 mounted on a tubular intake member 54 supported on a bracket55 carried by the frame 56. The drive shaft il extends through theintake 54 and has a screw conveyor 5l for conducting the material to theopening 45 from where the same falls into the lower compartment 45. Theopposite end of the shaft il extends through a tubular outlet member 55on which is mounted an air discharge stocking 59. The outlet member 58may be supported by a bracket @connected to the frame 56. screw conveyor5l is mounted on the shaft 41 between the opening 45 and the outletmember 58 and has its winding opposite to that of the conveyor 5l sothat both conveyors act to conduct the material inwardly toward theopening 45. The inner opposed ends of the compartments 44 and 45adjacent the opening 45 may be separated by a transverse annular band 52of substantially the same width as the tubular members 42 and 43 andthrough which the shaft 47 extends. The container 4i may be rotated inany suitable manner such as by a sprocket wheel 63 fastened or otherwisenon-rotatably secured to one of the tubular members such as 42, andwhich is operatively connected to a motor or the like, not shown.

The screw conveyor 6i, during the rotation of the shaft 4l, acts topreclude material from being withdrawn from the container and alsoconstitutes means for permitting the escape of air from the compartments44 and 45 during the mixing operation. Heretofore, in devices of thischaracter, no means have been provided for releasing the air replaced bystock introduced into the container with the result that the air isforced back into the container creating dust which interferes with theeflcient mixing of the materials. By providing the right and left handconveyors 5l and El respectively, and associating with the conveyor Elthe air outlet 58, air is permitted to escape through the stocking 59without blowing dust through the container. The outer ends'of thecompartments 44 and 45 may be each closed by a removable plug 64 which,when removed,

allows the mixed materials to be withdrawn from the container.

In operation, assuming that the shaft 41 is rotating, the materials tobe mixed are introduced into the container in the desired proportionsthrough thehopper 53 and are conducted by the conveyor 51 to the opening46 from where they discharge into the bottom container 45. The containeris then operatively connected by the sprocket wheel 63 to any suitabledriving means so as to rotate the same.

As the lower compartment 45 is moved upwardly, the materials in thepockets 52 are sequentially discharged through the opening 46 into thesmooth portion of the compartment 44 in the manner as previouslydescribed, and as the compartment 44 is moved to its lower position,this operation is repeated.

In the mixing of certain materials it is essential, in order to obtainproper blending of the ingredients, to have perfect control over the airin the container when charging the device so as to allow the airreplaced by the material to escape. On the other hand, on drawing offthe charge, it is essential to have means for replacing the material inthe drum with air as soon as the material is drawn olf. It will be seenthat by reason of the association of the conveyor 6l and the air outlet58 with the mixer, that positive means are provided for controlling thesupply of air to and from the container. Thus, if the apparatus is usedto mix a product containing a very light ingredient of a potentmedicinal nature,

such as strychnine, the rotation of the conveyor 6l acts to return thedust into the container but allows the air to escape through the tubularmember 42 and the air outlet 58.

By associating the inclined separators with the rotary container, meansare provided for not only separating the batch into six different lotsto mix them two at a time by Dyramiding and forming layers in the lowerend of the container but also due to the angularity of the plates, thematerial as it is agitated by the rotation of the container is alsoprogressively carried across the container from one side to the other soas to insure a proper and intimate mixture of the various materialsirrespectively of their sizes, shapes or proportions. Further, means arealso provided for allowing the air to escape when the container ischarged with a new batch of material and to replace the air when thematerial is discharged from the container.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and thatsuch changes may be made as fall within the pur- View of one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A side charging mixing apparatus of the class described including arotary container interiorly divided into two compartments, the innerends of said compartments being spaced from each other and communicatingthrough a band between the compartments, tubular members extendingoutwardly from opposite sides of said band, a shaft extendingtransversely through the tubular members and said band, means forconducting material to be mixed into one of the tubular members, an airoutlet on the other tubular member, a shaft extending transverselythrough the tubular members and said band, means for rotating saidshaft, means for conducting material to be mixed into one of the tubularmembers, an air outlet on the other tubular member, the portions of saidshaft within the tubular members having oppositely wound screw conveyorsthereon, one of said conveyors constituting means for feeding thematerial into the container land the other of said conveyors providingmeans for preventing the withdrawal of the material therethrough butallowing the air in the container to escape.

2. A side charging mixing apparatus of the class described including arotary container interiorly divided into two compartments, the innerends of said compartments being spaced from each other and communicatingthrough an annular band between the compartments, tubular membersextending outwardly from opposite Asides of said band, a -shaftextending transversely through the tubular members and said band, meansfor conducting material to be mixed into one of the tubular members, anair outlet on the other tubular member, a shaft extending transverselythrough vthe tubular members and said band, means for rotating saidshaft, means for `conducting material -to beY mixed into: one of thetubular members, an air outlet on the other tubular member, the portionsof said shaft within the tubular members having oppositely wound screwconveyors thereon, -one of said conveyors constituting means for feedingthe material into the container and the other of said conveyorsproviding means for preventing the withdrawal .of the materialtherethrough but allowing the air in the container to escape wherebyupon the introductionof material into the container to permit the airreplaced by the material to be withdrawn from the container and toreplace the air in the container-when the material is dischargedtherefrom.

3. A side charging mixing apparatus of the `class described including arotary container interiorly divided into twol compartments, the innerends of said compartments being spacedfrom each `other and communicatingthrough a band betweenthe compartments, means for rotating thecontainer, spaced partitioned plates extending inwardly from at leastone of the compartments and disposed atV an acute angle relative to thehorizontal transverse axis of the container, the spaces between theplates constituting pockets for receiving batches of the material andfor sequentially discharging the separate batches into the othercompartment during the rotation of the container, the inclination of theplates acting progressively to advance the material from one side to theother of the container during the rotation of the latter, tubularmembers extending outwardly from opposite sides of said band, a shaftextending transversely through the tubular members and said band, meansfor conducting material to be mixed into one of theA tubular members, anair outlet on the other tubular member, means for rotating said shaft,the portions of said shaft within the tubular members having oppositelywound screw conveyors thereon, one of said conveyors constituting meansfor feeding the material into the container and the other of saidconveyors providing means for preventing the withdrawal of the materialtherethrough but al- I lowing theair in the container to escape.

4. A side charging mixing apparatus of the class described including arotary container interiorly divided into two compartments communicatingat their inner ends through a central l band, means on the portion ofsaid shaft extend- Y:

ing through one of the tubular members for feeding material into thecontainer, and means on the portion of said shaft extending through theother tubular member for preventing the with-k drawal of the materialtherethrough and for controlling the supply of air to and from thecontainer.

ANGUS D. MACLELLAN.

